Blackpool Prom

I've had a rare weekend off from work while the sun has been shinning - being a regular night worker, it was all a bit dazzling and overwhelming

My other half was in work until 10pm - so what to do on such a day with the house to myself? Catch up on housework, weed the garden - the neighbours are giving me menacing looks! Nah - go to the beach

Blackpool was buzzing today, crowds of people parading along the golden mile, scantily clad with kiss me quick hats, buckets and spades and ice creams - soaking up the rays before the rains come again

My beach attire was not so glam' - a packed rucksack with all my gear, weighing me down as I walked down to south promenade - past the pleasure beach, towards St. Annes.

It's usually much quieter down here, and there is more of an expanse of beach to scour as the tide comes in. High tide by the way, was due at 5.30pm, I arrived by 2.30pm. I found a relatively quiet spot, just past the worlds largest mirror ball (Blackpool class, eh ) and set up my scope.

I wasn't too hopeful, as even down here the beach was crowded and out at sea was a couple of small dinghys with people fishing, one guy was parading up and down on a jet ski and to the right was a para-glider.

All of the expected gulls were present, but I was rewarded relatively quickly with the appearance of a flock of Sandwich Tern - there were about 25 in total, and they rested on the beach, in between groups of people, for a good half hour.

Next, I spotted a small group of 6 Redshank, but as I turned my scope on them they were scared off by a playful dog and some walkers.

A group of 5 Oystercatchers flew in and began looking for food along the edge of a distant pool of sea-water.

It wasn't too long before the Redshank re-grouped, and in the end there was a small flock of about 8, that settled for quite a while, feeding in the pools along the beach.

I spent a while watching the sea - but nothing of note leapt out at me - unless you count the Isle of Man ferry way off in the distance

I'm attending some training sessions on Monday and Tuesday in the town centre, so I think I'll try to top up my sightings after the course has finished - it wont match up with the incoming tide, but I live in hope.

I've put a few images in a seawatching album for you to peruse.

Update:

After my course finished on Tuesday I had another few hours on the promenade watching the sea as the tide came in. I had no new species, but the Oystercatcher population had increased and the Redshanks decreased (only saw 3 Redshank) Saw many more Sandwich Tern today - I counted a flock of 68, but they were too distant to get a decent photo. I did walk over the beach to get closer, but they were scared off by a walker and his dog and settled a good half mile further along. There's a few more photo's in the album.